“The Chu Clan’s fief?”
The civil official’s answer made Ji Xuanyuan’s heart tighten. “Could it be from the Taixu Sacred Domain?”
The official nodded. “Precisely!”
About 3,000 years ago, shortly after the founding of the Immortal Dynasty, Gaozu actively welcomed merchants from all directions to build a prosperous nation.
The Sacred Domain seized the opportunity, bringing rare spiritual materials like their local specialty, Black Star Sand, into the dynasty for trade.
At that time, the Immortal Dynasty’s spirit-tool forging arts were just beginning to flourish. Once the Chu Clan’s materials entered the market, they were instantly snatched up.
In the 100 years that followed, with the Taixu Sacred Domain as the source and Xuanji City as the hub, a cross-realm merchant route for spiritual materials was established.
All sorts of rare resources were transported to the Immortal Dynasty by Chu Clan caravans and distributed to various major sects and great clans.
Nowadays, within the borders of the Immortal Dynasty, almost every reputable auction house or treasure pavilion has the shadow of the Chu Clan behind it, to some degree or another.
After 3,000 years of operation, the clan had firmly taken root in the four regions of the Immortal Dynasty, sharing its prosperity and woe.
Xuanji City, where the Chu Clan was rooted, had become famous throughout the Realm of True Emotions as the number one trading city in the world.
The taxes generated within the city alone were a major source of income for the Immortal Dynasty every year.
Ji Xuanyuan listened quietly, but only a single thin figure appeared in her mind. She subconsciously asked, “Is the current Saint of the Taixu Sacred Domain named Chu Yuan?”
“Chu… Yuan?”
The official hesitated. “Your Highness, as far as I know, the Taixu Holy Lord has not yet selected a Saint! He only has one son, Chu Yunlan.”
Ji Xuanyuan was stunned. “Aside from him, the Holy Lord has no other children?”
The official shook his head silently.
Ji Xuanyuan lowered her head and frowned.
‘Strange!’
‘I remember my junior brother entered the Heavenly Sword Sect as the Saint of Taixu. Why is there only a Chu Yunlan now?’
‘Could there be some other hidden story behind this?’
‘Forget it! I should get the Divine Treasure Cushion first!’
Ji Xuanyuan’s red lips moved slightly. “Prepare the carriage! I wish to visit Xuanji City!”
“Yes! Your Highness!”
The official took his orders and departed with hurried steps.
A short while later, the imperial carriage rose into the sky.
The Divine Phoenix let out a cry that echoed through the nine heavens.
The elite guards rose one after another, following on both sides.
As the Divine Phoenix pulled the carriage, its wings trailing fire, it left a blazing golden trail across the blue sky.
Ji Xuanyuan sat inside the carriage, the curtains half-rolled.
The wind blew from across 10,000 miles of the sea of clouds, fluttering her flame-like long hair.
She gazed at the distant horizon where the dawn was creeping over the edge of the clouds.
The thought that her junior brother was somewhere in this world caused her eyes, which had been dim for 100 years, to be gilded with a layer of golden light by the rising sun.
A few moments later.
In the distance, Ji Xuanyuan caught sight of a massive, pyramid-shaped city breathing out billions of rays of spiritual light in the morning sun.
“… Fang Henian, the City Lord of Xuanji City, respectfully welcomes Your Highness!”
A streak of light suddenly shot out from the city walls. In an instant, it arrived 30 feet in front of the carriage and condensed into a human figure.
The elite guards all pressed their hands onto their sword hilts, their killing intent surging.
However, the newcomer did not flinch. He bowed deeply.
“Hearing of Your Highness’s personal arrival, I am overwhelmed with trepidation. A banquet has been prepared at the Moon-Grasping Pavilion, and a Heaven-grade courtyard has been selected for Your Highness to rest…”
“There is no need.”
Ji Xuanyuan’s voice drifted from behind the curtains, as indifferent as autumn water. “I am not here for an inspection, so there is no need for so many people to follow. Arrange a guide for me—someone who is familiar with the city’s anecdotes and rumors, and ideally, someone who does not talk too much.”
City Lord Fang Henian looked up, stunned for a heartbeat.
‘Is Her Highness… on a private visit? Or is she here to relax?’
Fang Henian instinctively tested the waters. “If Your Highness does not find me dull, I am willing to serve as your guide.”
“Granted.”
Hearing her say this, Fang Henian immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Ji Xuanyuan changed into plain clothes and stepped down from the carriage.
The Divine Phoenix folded its wings, and the elites remained outside the city.
Accompanied only by Fang Henian, she entered Xuanji City.
Inside, streets and alleys crisscrossed through the city.
Children played and wove through the bustling crowds, their laughter crisp and clear.
Following the system’s directional sensing, Ji Xuanyuan suddenly saw a thin figure.
It was a youth standing in front of a spiritual materials shop, currently talking to the shopkeeper.
The noise on the long street was like a boiling cauldron, making it impossible for Ji Xuanyuan to hear the conversation. She only saw the shopkeeper wave his hand and throw the cloth bag the youth had offered onto the ground.
Several pieces of poor-quality ore rolled out of the bag, stained with dust and mud.
The youth sighed, leaned over to pick them up, and then turned toward the next shop.
Ji Xuanyuan grew curious. “Who is that youth?”
The City Lord swept his divine sense over and subconsciously murmured, “This… seems to be the orphan from a branch of the Chu Clan?”
Ji Xuanyuan hesitated. “An orphan?”
Fang Henian lowered his voice to introduce him. “Yes! To answer Your Highness, this person is named Chu Yuan. He is an orphan from a remote branch of the Chu Clan. His parents died early, and the clan does not treat him well. Now he only does odd jobs like sweeping and running errands in the city. Occasionally, he delivers spiritual materials for shops to earn some spirit stones for his cultivation.”
Ji Xuanyuan’s heart tightened. “Chu Yuan? Which ‘Yuan’?”
Fang Henian replied, “Your Highness! It is ‘Yuan’ as in ‘Abyss’!”
‘Abyss…?’
Ji Xuanyuan’s eyes widened slightly, her face filled with shock.
‘I remember my junior brother from my previous life was the prestigious Saint…’
‘How could he be an unvalued “orphan” now?’
‘No!’
‘It might be that fox’s arrangement…’
Recalling her previous life, Ji Xuanyuan had witnessed the methods of that thousand-year-old fox—the Supreme Guardian who was both his protector and his teacher.
That fox had been extremely strict with him.
Because of that, her junior brother had suffered no shortage of hardships since childhood.
‘Could this be another trial?’
Ji Xuanyuan knew very well that some families, in order to train their direct heirs, would deliberately arrange for them to be neglected in their youth to temper their character.
Thinking about how her junior brother had been proficient in every aspect of daily life when they were in the sect, it was not hard for her to imagine—
Perhaps her junior brother usually lived in some dilapidated courtyard in Xuanji City, worrying about the Qi Gathering Pills he couldn’t afford for tomorrow.
Perhaps he was currently crouching by a well washing clothes, the cold water washing over his cracked knuckles.
Perhaps he would wake up with a start in the middle of the night, startled by the sound of the wind blowing through the cracks in the walls.
The moment she imagined these scenes, Ji Xuanyuan felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly.
Seeing her strange expression, Fang Henian asked in confusion, “High—Miss?”
Ji Xuanyuan shook her head slightly. “It is nothing.”
There was a slight tremble in her voice.
Fang Henian grew even more confused.
Following her gaze, he saw the gray-blue figure about to disappear into the depths of the crowd. He asked tentatively, “Miss, would you like me to call that young Master Chu over for questioning?”
Ji Xuanyuan nodded. “Go! Use the excuse of buying those ores to invite him to a nearby tea house for a chat!”
“Yes!”
Fang Henian responded and walked away quickly.
Ji Xuanyuan moved toward the tea house.
Facing such a noble guest, the shopkeeper immediately cleared out the quietest private room on the third floor.
She sat by the window, where a pot of this spring’s newly offered Snow-Top Emerald was brewing on the stove.
The tea steam curled, lingering like mist around her lowered eyebrows.
Knock, knock!
After a short while, Fang Henian’s respectful voice came from outside the door. “Miss, Master Chu has arrived.”
Hearing this, Ji Xuanyuan became inexplicably nervous.
Only now did she realize that this might be her first meeting with her junior brother after a separation of over 100 years.
Ji Xuanyuan could not help but begin to tidy her appearance.
Seeing that she had not answered for a long time, the waiting Fang Henian asked in confusion, “Miss?”
Ji Xuanyuan was startled.
Smoothing over her excited emotions, she regained her composure. “Please, come in!”